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The Victoria Shamrocks know they must not let the 鈥淐ollapse in Copeland鈥� come to haunt their Western Lacrosse Association semifinal playoff series against the Burnaby Lakers.
The fourth-seed Shamrocks lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 against the top-seed Lakers, with Game 6 tonight at 6 p.m. at the Q Centre.
This is a Game 6 that seemed perhaps not needed, for much of Friday night at Bill Copeland Arena in Burnaby, before the Lakers scored six unanswered goals to rally for an 8-6 victory in Game 5 to save their season and stave off elimination.
鈥淲e had our foot on their throat, but gave them a little more life. We can鈥檛 let that be the would have, could have, should have moment of our playoffs,鈥� said Victoria head coach Bob Heyes.
He is confident it won鈥檛 be, because he can read his players.
鈥淥ur guys were more mad that we let the game get away, than they were dejected or down, following that game Friday night,鈥� Heyes said.
Even veteran players like these need to constantly re-affirm basic old lessons in sport.
鈥淒id we continue playing to win, or, with the lead, start playing not to lose?鈥� Heyes said.
鈥淟esson learned. You play to the final buzzer.鈥�
That鈥檚 an oldie, but a goldie in terms of sporting bromides.
So is the notion of being lifted by the home fans.
鈥淲e expect a great crowd and atmosphere in our building for Game 6 and that always brings us energy,鈥� Heyes said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e still in the driver鈥檚 seat. Even without [injured veterans] Rhys Duch and Matt Yager, and as the fourth seed going against the top seed. If before the series, you had given me the option of a 3-2 lead heading home, I would have taken it with a smile.鈥�
Victoria鈥檚 bench, already missing Duch and Yager, got thinner with defensive specialist Dallas Wade having to depart to his U.S. collegiate NCAA field-lacrosse team in Tennessee.
鈥淲e will do some line juggling or insert a junior call-up,鈥� Heyes said.
Game 7, if required, is in Burnaby onTuesday.
